Qld Deputy Premier: Scott Morrison won’t get ‘special treatment’ to attend AFL final

Deputy Premier Steven Miles has ruled out giving Scott Morrison special treatment to attend the AFL grand final, saying the PM “has been clear no one should get special treatment”.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison will not be given special treatment to enter Queensland for the AFL grand final.

Queensland’s Deputy Premier Steven Miles said Scott Morrison “has been clear he doesn’t think anyone should get special treatment.”

“I’m very sure he would understand that and that he would not ask for special treatment,” Mr Miles said.

This follows almost 400 AFL executives and family members being granted exemption to enter Queensland ahead of the October 24 event, and Hollywood star Tom Hanks flying into the Gold Coast to film his new movie.

On Sydney radio on Thursday morning, Mr Morrison said he would have to do what everyone else does if he wanted to come to Queensland.

“Well I don’t think there should be double standards, I mean it’s not like I’m a Hollywood movie star or in the AFL or anything,” he told Nova’s Fitzy and Wippa.

Today host Karl Stefanovic earlier slammed the Queensland border measures which will essentially block the Prime Minister from attending the AFL grand final.

Mr Morrison is likely to be the first Prime Minister in recent history who has not attended the grand final, unless he quarantines for two weeks and picks up his own bill.

The grand final is one week before the Queensland state election, meaning Mr Morrison won’t be able to head north to support his LNP colleague Deb Frecklington.

Speaking on Today on Thursday morning, the Prime Minister said he didn’t expect to be treated any differently, even if that meant he can’t attend the game.

In recent years, the AFL grand final has often been attended by Prime Ministers including Mr Morrison, Malcolm Turnbull, Julia Gillard, and John Howard.

Former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and wife Lucy at the 2016 AFL Grand final at Melbourne's MCG. Picture: Jason Edwards

“I don’t think there should be double standards. I don’t think I should be treated differently to anybody else,” he said.

“It would be great to be there, be great to get to many places … but I have no plans (to be at the AFL grand final.)

“The Prime Minister always seeks to go there when they can … I think that will be difficult given the arrangements they have got.

“I’ve got a busy job and a lot to do at the moment, I’ll keep on with what Australians need me focusing on.

“That doesn’t mean going to the AFL grand final, I suspect.”

Host Karl Stefanovic said he “can’t believe the Prime Minister of this country can’t go to the AFL grand final.”

“It’s a travesty,” Stefanovic said.

In response, Mr Morrison said he wasn’t going to hold his breath.

“It’s interesting times, isn’t it? You never know, maybe they will change their mind. Who knows.”

400 AFL Executives and their families spent their mandatory two weeks in quarantine lounging by the pool after the Queensland Government approved their entry. Picture: 9 News

It comes as pressure continues to mount on Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk’s strict border measures, which allowed an AFL contingent of 400 from Melbourne to quarantine in a luxury resort while grieving family members are unable to attend funerals or farewell loved ones.

It follows an ugly war of words between the Prime Minister and the Queensland Premier over the plight of hardship cases including a young woman who was unable to attend her father’s funeral.

Ms Palaszczuk accused Mr Morrison of bullying her, but he reaffirmed his stance on Today on Thursday morning.

“I just asked that she show some discretion on this particular case … I sought to do it privately,” he said.

“It became a public matter when the premier raised it in parliament, that was unfortunate.

“I shake these things off.”

National Cabinet will meet on Friday, where it’s expected Mr Morrison will again attempt to determine a national COVID-19 hotspot system to encourage states to reopen their borders.

Ms Palaszczuk is remaining firm on her stance to keep the borders closed to NSW and Victoria.

“No one is saying she needs to bring the borders down,” Mr Morrison said.

“I understand how that fits in the way that they are managing things and I know that is supported by Queenslanders.

“But Queenslanders also want to ensure that there aren’t double standards, they want to ensure that things are run well – that’s a matter for the Queensland Government.”